Post-hole-boring machine.



PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

NoL 865,457.

L. J. VAN KIRK.

POST HOLE BORING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2a. 1907.'

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[NVENTOR W1 TNESSES No. 865,457. l PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907. L. J. VAN KIRK.

POST HOLE BORING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W1 TNESSES o(.- 6. m Wfida By WWW w %MWP :4 [for/10 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

POST-HOLE-BORING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filed February 28,1907. Serial No. 369,916-

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, LYNDON J. VAN KIRK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rush Lake, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Post- Hole-Boring Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description-of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to machines for boring holes in the earth for posts and for other purposes; and it con-' sists in the novel construction and combination of the parts herein fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan View; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the machine showing the gearing.

A is the supporting base of the machine formed of a suitable framework and preferably of a portable construction so that it can be moved about from place to place.

it is the main frame of the machine which is pivoted at oneend to the base'by a suitable tubular pivot b. B is a'curved guide-bar secured to the base for the other end portion of the main frame to slide on.

C is a horizontal driving-shaft journaled in bearings c secured to the base A, and provided with a belt-pulley C for driving it from any approved motor, such as a gas engine. 1

D is a vertical shaft journaled in the frame B, and d and d are two beveled toothed wheels which engage with each other and connect the shafts C and D.

The pulley G, shaft C, and wheels d and d afford a means for revolving the driving-shaft D, but any other approved means might be used.

E is a longitudinal driving-shaft journaled in suitable hearings in the upper part of the frame B and projecting at its front 'end. A beveled toothed pinion c is secured on the upper end portion of the vertical shaft D and engages with a beveled toothed wheel e secured on the shaft E.

E is a beveled toothed pinion secured on the end portion of the shaft E at the front of the machine.

F is an annular plate which is journaled in curved guides f secured to the front of the frame B.

G is the boring-shaft which is journaled in bearings g secured to the plate I". An earth-auger or other approved boring-tool is secured to the lower end portion of the shaft G in any approved manner.

G is a beveled toothed wheel which is splined it the shaft G and which is held in engagement with the pin; ion E by means of a bearing f secured to the annular plate F and in which bearing the hub of the wheel G is journaled.

The shaft E, wheels G and E, and wheels e and e constitute anintermediate driving mechanism between the vertical driving-shaft D and the boring-shaft G; and the shaft E and wheel E afford a means for revolving thc driving-wheel G.

The pivotal connection of the main frame with the base permits the said frame to be moved in ahorizontal plane to adjust the position of the boring-shaft, and the annular plate 1" permits the said shaft to be set at any desired angle with the vertical, or to be set truly vertical when the machine is not standing on level ground.

H is a crossbar journaled at the top of the boring-shaft and prevented from sliding longitudinally on it by suitable shouldcrs or collars; and I is a similar crossbar journaled on the lower part of the said boring-shaft.

H is the feed-barrel secured-on a shaft h which is journalcd in the frame B, and h are the feed-ropes which are wound on the barrel H. These feed-ropes are preferably wire-ropes, or any other equivalent flexible connections, and they pass under guide-sheaves j carried by the annular plate F, and have their upper ends secured to the upper crossbar H. The revoluble shaft H, ropes h, and crossbar H constitute a feed-mechanism for moving the boring-shaft downwardly towards the earth.

I is the lifting-barrel, o1- barrels, secured on a shaft 1' which is journaled in the frame B. Two barrels I are preferably used so as to clear the shaft E. Wire ropes 11, or other equivalent flexible connections, are wound upon the barrels I. These ropes 1' pass over guide-sheavesj also carried by the annular plate F, and their lower ends are secured to the crossbar I.

Driving mechanism is provided for revolving the shafts h and i alternately, each said shaft being disconnected from the driving mechanism while the other shaft is being revolved.

K is a horizontal shaft journaled in suitable bearings at the rear part of the frame B, and k and k are two beveled toothed pinions which run loose on the shaft K and which gear into the wheel e on the longitudinal driving-shaft E. The pinions k and k have friction clutch-members m and m secured to them respectively, and M and M are friction clutch-members which are splined to the shaft K and which are slidable into and out of engagement with the clutch-members m and m respectively.

N is the lifting-lever pivoted to the frame B by a pin n, and operatively connected with the clutch-member M.

N is the feed-lever pivoted to the frame B by a pin n, and operatively connected with the clutch-member M.

P is a toothed pinion which is secured on the shaft K, and p is a toothed wheelwhichrunslooseupon the shaft 1" of thelifting-barrels. The wheel p is also slidable longitudinally upon the shaft 11, and, for the purpose of sliding it, the feed-leverN is provided with a hook-shaped arm P which engages with an an- Iillhl groove in the hub of didwhsd p.- The lever N and its ann P conditutea means for diding the wheelp; and the pinionPand itadraftafiordameans for driving the wheel p, but any other approved means imdiding and driving the wheel 1) might be used. The hub of the wheel p is also provided with a clutchmember q {or engaging with a clutch-member q securedonthedraftiofthelifting-barrela. Onthe other u'de of ule Wlel 1: its hub is also provided with a clutch-member 1 which is didable into and out of ergagement with a clutch-member 1 formed on a lprocket pinion R. The qirocket pinion R runs loose on the draft i of the liftiig-barrels, and Iritable collarl are provided which prevent it from diding longitudinllly on the mid shaft. I

S is a qimcket wheel which is secured on the shaft b of the feed-barrel, and r is a drive-chain of any approved construction which pames over the sprocket wheel S and the sprocket pinion R.

When the feed-lever N is moved so as to place the wheel p in engagement with the qnocket pinion, and

the clutch-member ll in engagement with the clutchmenrber In, the feed-barrel is revolved slowly and at a suitable When the feed-lever N is moved inthereversedirectionsoastoplacethewheelpin engagement with the clutch-member g which is st cured onthe shaft of the lifting-barrels, the feed-barrel is free to revolve in the reverse direction as the feedaopes are uncoiled from it; and the lifting barrels are revolved when the lifting-lever N is moved so as to place the clutch-member [in engagement with the clutch-member m.

The lifting-barrels are revolved at a higher speed than the feed-barrel, so as to mine the earth-auger or other tool rapidly out of the hole in the earth.

what I'clairn is:

1. The combination, with a supporting base, of frame pivoted at one end to the laid base, a vertical drivingshaftpasslng through the pivotef the said frame and provided with means for revolving it, a boring-chart arranged at the free end portion of the mid frame in a plane paralid to the said driving shaft, dilengageahle feed-mechanilm operated from the laid driving-lhaft for moving the laid boring-shaft longitudinally, and intermediate driving mechanilnrbetween the said vertical shaft and the lid 2. The emnbination, with a supporting frame provided with curved guides, of a plate journaled in the laid guides and provided with bearings, guide-sheaves mrried by the laid plate a boring-shaft mounted in the said bearings, a

driving-wheel 'lplined to the said boring shaft for revolvlag it, a crcsabar mounted oa'the laid boriag-lhaft, and flexible connections connected to the laid croal-har and passing over the laldguide lheavel. for moving the laid boring-shaft longitudinally.

3. The combination, with a supporting frame provided with curved guides, of an aanularplate provided with bearings and Unstable in the laid guides, a boring-shaft aiidalrle longitudinally in the laid bearinga, crealbarl carried by the upper and lower portions of the said boringshaft a revoiuble feodlrarrel ,ourlaled in the laid frame. a revoluble lifting-barrel also )ourlaled in the laid frame, ropes wound on the Kid barrels and connected with the upper and lower crossbar-a respectively, guide-sheaves for the laid ropes carried by the laid annular plate, and drivlug-mechanism for revolving the laid borinrahaft.

4. The combination, with a boring-shaft, and drivingbarrel and a lifting-barrel each provided with a mm and journlled in the said frame, a driving-shaft also jouraaled in the laid frame and providedwith means for revolving it in each direction, a clutch-member secured on the liftinglmrrel shaft, a clutch-member loole on the laid lifting-barrel-shaft, a wheel loose on the shaft between the two laid clutch-mernl ers and provided with clutch-members for engaging with them alternately, means for llidim the laid wheel longitudinally on its shaft, driving-mechanism eonnecting the said loose clutch-member with the feed-barrel shaft, and means for driving the said wheel from the said driving-shaft.

6, The combination, with a supporting frame, of a feedbarrel and a lifting-barrel each provided with a lhaft and journaled in the said frame, a driving-shaft aiao-jonrnaled in the said frame and provided with clutch-mechanism for starting and stopping it, a clutch-member secured on the lifting-barrel shaft, a clutch-member loea'e on the laid lifting-harrel shaft, 1 wheel loose on the draft between the two said clutch-members and provided with clutch-membore for engaging with them alternately, a single operating lever forsliding the said wheel longitudinallyon ital shaft and for operating the aforelaid clutch-mechmimnen the drivingihaft, driving devices connecting the laid loule clutch-member with the feed-barrel shaft, and means for driving the said wheel from the said driving-shaft. g

In testimony whereof I have aflxed my lignature-in the presence of two witnesses.- g

-' funnou l. van mK.

Witnesses: v

Manon IL. HIANIY, Ions J. Woon, Jr. 

